Vertical Division and Administration
Vertical Distribution of Forests
The forests of Bulgaria can be divided according to their altitude above sea level. Each zone has a different type of land ownership and size. The following summary shows the approximate distribution:
Owners Up to 400 m 400–1,000 m 1,000–2,000 m Total Area (hectares)
The State 296,547 347,547 258,525 902,619
Parishes (Communal lands) 791,365 466,649 307,228 1,565,242
Private Owners 314,307 179,382 79,579 573,268
Total 1,402,219 993,578 645,332 3,041,129 hectares
This table shows that the largest portion of forest land belongs to the parishes or local communities, followed by the state-owned forests, and lastly those owned by private individuals. The forests are spread across lowlands, hills, and mountain regions, with a noticeable increase in state ownership at higher altitudes.
Administration of Forests
The management and supervision of Bulgaria’s forests fall under the control of the Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture. Within the Ministry, there is a special department responsible for carrying out the forest laws and overseeing all forest-related activities Customized Guided Turkey Tours.
The department’s main staff includes:
A chief of department
An inspector-general of forests
A forest engineer
Two assistant chiefs
Local Forest Districts
For easier management, the entire country is divided into forest districts. Each district contains several administrative centres, and each centre supervises a number of forest stations.
According to the 1905 budget, the forest service was staffed by:
6 district inspectors
40 foresters
20 adjuncts (assistants)
This means that, on average, there was one district inspector for every 506,856 hectares and one forester for every 76,038 hectares. This shows how large the forest areas are compared to the number of officials managing them.
Special Bureau for Mountain Streams
In the same year, the Ministry also established a special bureau to oversee the canalisation of mountain streams—a project important for flood control and forest preservation.
The bureau was designed to include:
A chief of department (a foreign expert)
Two assistant chiefs (one of them foreign)
An engineer
A draughtsman
An administrator
The bureau would begin operations once the full staff had been appointed.
Example The Walnut Forest near Kazanlak
One of the most beautiful examples of Bulgaria’s natural wealth is the walnut forest near Kazanlak. It represents the richness and diversity of the country’s vegetation and the potential value of proper forest management.
The forests of Bulgaria are carefully organized and supervised through a structured administrative system. Although much of the forest area lies in mountain regions, the government’s efforts—especially through the new forest bureau—show a clear commitment to protecting natural resources and managing them wisely for future generations.